Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PORTAUPRINCE45
2006-01-09 20:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Port Au Prince
Cable title:
NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND
how-toVZCZCXRO6501 RR RUEHQU DE RUEHPU #0045/01 0092033 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 092033Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2015 INFO RUEHZH/HAITI COLLECTIVE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0887 RUEHWN/AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN 1451 RUEHKG/AMEMBASSY KINGSTON 1936 RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 2403 RUEHBH/AMEMBASSY NASSAU 2633 RUEHSP/AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN 1589 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0721 RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0310 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 0233 RUEHQU/AMCONSUL QUEBEC 0334 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0773
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000045
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO HA
SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND
FEBRUARY 7
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PORT AU PRINCE 000045
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO HA
SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND
FEBRUARY 7
1. Summary: After a weekend of political maneuvering, the
first round of national elections is set for February 7, the
second round for March 12, the inauguration for March 29, and
the local and municipal elections for April 30. Elections
machinations began January 6 when the Provisional Electoral
Council (CEP) rejected UN Security Council and OAS pressure
to schedule the first round of elections for February 7.
Pressure on the PM and CEP from the international community,
however, helped avoid calls for delays during a January 7
cabinet meeting on elections and galvanize the CEP to vote
for February 7 elections. According to the PM, the executive
order convening the first round of elections February 7 is
signed and needs only be published. End Summary.
2. The UN Security Council and OAS declared January 6 that
the Interim Government of Haiti must hold the first round of
national elections by February 7. Though the Provisional
Electoral Council (CEP) was slated to meet January 6 to fix
new dates, CEP President Max Mathurin did not call a meeting
to vote, instead the members met informally in small groups.
The members insisted they needed a technical analysis of the
feasibility of February 7 and that February 15 would be a
better date. CEP General Director Jacques Bernard said CEP
dithering resulted from a nationalistic reaction against the
UN and OAS for what the CEP perceived as an attempt by the
international community to dictate the CEP decision. (Note:
The IGOH was the first to propose February 7 as a possible
date for the first round. End Note) Bernard and Charge
Griffiths lobbied CEP president Mathurin and several CEP
members January 6 and encouraged them to expeditiously choose
February 7 for the first round.
3. The PM hosted a meeting January 7 with the cabinet,
international community and CEP to discuss ID Card
distribution, voting centers, elections security, and
election dates. According to the PM, throughout the meeting,
the ministers of culture, environment, agriculture and health
disrupted the conversation and attacked the electoral
process, seeking further delay. (Note: The PM said he
expects the ministers of culture, environment and agriculture
to resign in the coming week. End Note.) However, because
the new election dates will be legalized by executive order,
which only the President, PM and Minister of the Interior
must sign, the PM ended the meeting before the assembled
group could discuss election dates, preventing any debate on
the new dates.
4. The CEP met later January 7 and recommended that the first
round be held February 7. CEP members Patrick Fequiere and
Louis Gerson Richeme did not attend the meeting, but the
remaining members voted four - three to hold the first round
February 7, the second round March 12, inaugurate a new
president March 29, and hold local elections April 30.
(Note: The PM said he would accept CEP member Fequiere's
resignation should he submit it in protest. End Note.)
Rosemond Pradel and Pauris Jean-Baptiste argued for later
dates, purportedly because of close ties to the political
parties FUSION and OPL. Polling indicates that neither is
faring well in the presidential race. According to the PM,
the executive order establishing the new dates has already
been signed and will be published in the government
newspaper, the Moniteur January 12.
5. Comment: Presidential candidate Preval's consistent lead
in the polls has not galvanized his opposition to seek
coalitions, but it has apparently caused some members of the
CEP and cabinet to ally to delay elections. CEP member
Patrick Fequiere has withdrawn from planning and has sent CEP
president Mathurin a series of documents protesting various
aspects of election preparations. We should prepare for both
Fequiere and losers in the presidential race to criticize the
PORT AU PR 00000045 002 OF 002
electoral process after the election. Both will likely use
any means available to taint the results. End Comment.
CARNEY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAR
DRL
S/CRS
SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS AID FOR LAC/CAR
INR/IAA (BEN-YEHUDA)
TREASURY FOR JEFFREY LEVINE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PKAO HA
SUBJECT: NEW DATES FOR HAITIAN ELECTION SET, FIRST ROUND
FEBRUARY 7
1. Summary: After a weekend of political maneuvering, the
first round of national elections is set for February 7, the
second round for March 12, the inauguration for March 29, and
the local and municipal elections for April 30. Elections
machinations began January 6 when the Provisional Electoral
Council (CEP) rejected UN Security Council and OAS pressure
to schedule the first round of elections for February 7.
Pressure on the PM and CEP from the international community,
however, helped avoid calls for delays during a January 7
cabinet meeting on elections and galvanize the CEP to vote
for February 7 elections. According to the PM, the executive
order convening the first round of elections February 7 is
signed and needs only be published. End Summary.
2. The UN Security Council and OAS declared January 6 that
the Interim Government of Haiti must hold the first round of
national elections by February 7. Though the Provisional
Electoral Council (CEP) was slated to meet January 6 to fix
new dates, CEP President Max Mathurin did not call a meeting
to vote, instead the members met informally in small groups.
The members insisted they needed a technical analysis of the
feasibility of February 7 and that February 15 would be a
better date. CEP General Director Jacques Bernard said CEP
dithering resulted from a nationalistic reaction against the
UN and OAS for what the CEP perceived as an attempt by the
international community to dictate the CEP decision. (Note:
The IGOH was the first to propose February 7 as a possible
date for the first round. End Note) Bernard and Charge
Griffiths lobbied CEP president Mathurin and several CEP
members January 6 and encouraged them to expeditiously choose
February 7 for the first round.
3. The PM hosted a meeting January 7 with the cabinet,
international community and CEP to discuss ID Card
distribution, voting centers, elections security, and
election dates. According to the PM, throughout the meeting,
the ministers of culture, environment, agriculture and health
disrupted the conversation and attacked the electoral
process, seeking further delay. (Note: The PM said he
expects the ministers of culture, environment and agriculture
to resign in the coming week. End Note.) However, because
the new election dates will be legalized by executive order,
which only the President, PM and Minister of the Interior
must sign, the PM ended the meeting before the assembled
group could discuss election dates, preventing any debate on
the new dates.
4. The CEP met later January 7 and recommended that the first
round be held February 7. CEP members Patrick Fequiere and
Louis Gerson Richeme did not attend the meeting, but the
remaining members voted four - three to hold the first round
February 7, the second round March 12, inaugurate a new
president March 29, and hold local elections April 30.
(Note: The PM said he would accept CEP member Fequiere's
resignation should he submit it in protest. End Note.)
Rosemond Pradel and Pauris Jean-Baptiste argued for later
dates, purportedly because of close ties to the political
parties FUSION and OPL. Polling indicates that neither is
faring well in the presidential race. According to the PM,
the executive order establishing the new dates has already
been signed and will be published in the government
newspaper, the Moniteur January 12.
5. Comment: Presidential candidate Preval's consistent lead
in the polls has not galvanized his opposition to seek
coalitions, but it has apparently caused some members of the
CEP and cabinet to ally to delay elections. CEP member
Patrick Fequiere has withdrawn from planning and has sent CEP
president Mathurin a series of documents protesting various
aspects of election preparations. We should prepare for both
Fequiere and losers in the presidential race to criticize the
PORT AU PR 00000045 002 OF 002
electoral process after the election. Both will likely use
any means available to taint the results. End Comment.
CARNEY